New Haven Independent

After 6-Year Battle, Firefighters Get Badges

by Melissa Bailey | December 11, 2009 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)

When the “New Haven 20” took the city to the U.S. Supreme Court, Terrence Rountree had no idea he’d end up with a badge.

He found himself in an unusual position amid 24 firefighters sworn in as captains and lieutenants Thursday: One of three African-Americans who, as a result of a reverse-discrimination claim by mostly white colleagues, won promotions.

For Rountree (at left in photo), a 12-year veteran of the city fire force, Thursday’s ceremony capped years of waiting — waiting out of the spotlight, and largely in the dark.

His promotion came thanks to Frank Ricci (at right in photo) and 19 mostly white firefighters, dubbed the New Haven 20, who sued the city when it tossed out the 2003 test results because African-Americans performed poorly. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June on behalf of the plaintiffs, paving the way for 14 of the New Haven 20 to be promoted — as well as Rountree and nine other firefighters.

Rountree ranked 16th out of 77 who took the lieutenants test. Even as he advanced in rank, black firefighters have tried to halt the promotions, claiming the test was biased against blacks.

In a related development this week, the state Supreme Court overturned a jury award to two black firefighters who had won a suit claiming they were denied promotions based on race. (Read the Reg’s Randall Beach’s story here.)

The latest round of promotions took place last week. Families and top city brass filled the Wilbur Cross High School theater Thursday afternoon for a swearing-in and badge-pinning ceremony. Firefighters lined up on stage, where one of the New Haven 20 tapped his shoes in anticipation. (Click here for a few more photos.)

Many of the firefighters seated in the front row have grown used to the national spotlight. Ricci captured the nation’s attention when he told U.S. Senators how he overcame dyslexia and sacrificed time with his family to study for the promotions test, only to see his hard work disregarded.

Thursday, Rountree sat in the third row, behind Ricci. After the ceremony, he offered his own, lesser-noticed tale.

Rountree grew up in a housing project in New Haven. He now lives in Westville with his wife, one-time aldermanic candidate Lashell Rountree. They have two boys, ages 8 and 10, who go to Edgewood School.

Rountree had six years on the firefighting force when he decided to seek promotion. He studied on his own, even missing a few of his kids’ sporting events because he had to hit the books. In November 2003, he took the lieutenants test along with 76 fellow firefighters. Another 41 took the captains exam.

For the family, the test was another chance to advance based on hard work, said Lashell Rountree, who’s also African-American. Both she and her husband come from “meager means.”

They were both the first in their families to go to college. “We don’t want any handouts,” she said. “We work really hard for what we have.”

When Terrence came home one day, his wife asked how he did on the test.

“They threw it out,” he said, Lashell Rountree recalled.

Fearing a race discrimination lawsuit, the city chose to ignore the results of the two tests because African-Americans fared poorly.

Terrence Rountree didn’t find out how he did. He learned only the racial statistics: Six out of 19 blacks and three out of 15 Hispanics passed the lieutenants’ test. No minorities would be immediately promoted, but three blacks would have advanced in rank in the next round of promotions if the city approved the eligibility list.

Three out of eight blacks and three out of eight Hispanics passed the captains test. No blacks and at most two Hispanics scored high enough to warrant promotion.

For the next few years, Rountree would wait and wonder where he sat on the list.

“All you knew was there were a few minorities. It wasn’t pinpointed to you,” Rountree said.

“We had no way of knowing how he scored,” his wife said.

She said she felt strongly from the start that whoever did well on the test should be promoted.

“It’s not about the color of your skin,” she said.

Terrence Rountree said he didn’t take a strong stance when his mostly white colleagues sued the city claiming they were unlawfully denied promotion. While some black firefighters spoke out against the New Haven 20, he tried to stay out of the fight.

“I just felt bad for the [low] morale that it” brought, Rountree said. The legal battle caused some friction in the firehouse, he recalled.

Worse was a national perception that blacks had flunked the test. As the case headed toward the U.S. Supreme Court, landing in the center of a national debate on race-based hiring, many media outlets got the story wrong. They reported that no blacks passed the test.

That hurt.

“It sucks for an African-American,” Terrence Rountree said, “to hear that we all failed.”

Turn Of Events

He didn’t find out until mid-2009 that he was in line for promotion. Then his feelings about the dispute changed.

“I became happy,” Rountree recalled.

As the case “heated up in the press,” Lashell Rountree said, she “started thinking about the financial loss to the household” as a result of her husband’s delayed promotion. However, there wasn’t much to do but wait.

“We weren’t fighting like the rest of these guys. We were just waiting, just waiting to see,” Terrence Rountree said.

Last Friday, Rountree finally got promoted along with nine non-plaintiffs who scored well on the tests.

At the time, fellow firefighter Tyrone Ewing (pictured) called the moment “bittersweet”: In order to get promoted, the 10 non-plaintiffs had to agree to give up the right to years of back pay.

The New Haven 20 haven’t given up that right. They’re still seeking punitive and compensatory damages as the case, Ricci v. DeStefano, continues in U.S. District Court in New Haven.

Thursday, the Rountrees focused on the positive.

“I’m just happy for the promotion. That’s all,” Terrence Rountree said.

Lashell Rountree pronounced her husband “lucky” for reaping the benefits of the New Haven 20’s suit. “We’re extremely indebted to those guys,” she said.

The promotion means Terrence Rountree has stepped into a new managerial role, in a new firehouse.

He got a significant pay raise, too. A firefighter makes $65,166; a lieutenant makes $72,999 and a captain makes $81,075.

Lashell Rountree said the family will use the extra money to increase contributions to their children’s college funds. Their sons, Aiden and Terrence, Jr., are in the third and sixth grade.

“We invest most of our time and money into our kids,” she said.

Thursday’s promotions came after official congratulatory remarks from Mayor John DeStefano, Fire Chief Michael Grant and retired chief Martin O’Connor.

DeStefano swore in 16 new lieutenants, eight captains, as well as firefighter Todd Kornacki, who was recently promoted to fire investigator/fire inspector.

Promoted to Lieutenant:
Frank Ricci, Michael Blatchley, Greg Boivin, Michael Christoforo, Ryan Divito, Steven Durand, Christoper Parker, Mark Vendetto, Timothy Kieley, Sean Reynolds, Gary Cole, Bruce Golaski, Thayer Baldwin, Tyrone Ewing, James Watkins, Terrence Rountree.

Promoted to Captain:
Gary Carbone, William Gambardella, Brian Jooss, Matthew Marcarelli, Timothy Scanlon, Benjamin Vargas, John Ryan, Luis Rivera.

Past stories on fire department promotions and the Ricci case:

• Ricci Case’s “Tinney Intervenors” Try Again
• 10 More Firefighters Promoted
• Judge Blocks Black Firefighters’ Move
• Board Promotes 14 Firefighters
• Judge Orders Firefighter Promotions
• Black Firefighters Seek To Halt Promotions
• Promotions Pitched In Ricci Case
• Ricci’s Back In Court
• After Ricci Ruling, Black Firefighter Sues City
• Ricci Takes The Stand
• In D.C., Two Latino Views On Sotomayor
• Dems Swing Back On Ricci
• ConnectiCOSH Kibosh
• Sotomayor: I Didn’t “Hide” Ricci Case
• Is Ricci Being Smeared?
• Sotomayor Speaks On Ricci
• Ricci Takes Center Stage
• Watley: I’d Have Promoted Ricci
• Firebirds, NAACP: Ricci Won’t Stop Us
• “If You Work Hard You Can Succeed In America”
• Was He The Culprit?
• Supreme Court Overturns City On Ricci
• On Page 25, A Hint
• Minority Firefighters Vow Post-Ricci Unity
• Ricci Ruling Won’t End Quest
• Ricci, Sotomayor Brand DeStefano
• Firefighter Case Reveals Surprise Obama Stand
• Justices Zero In On Race-Based Distinctions
• Rights Groups Back Black Firefighters
• The Supreme Stakes: Title VII’s Future
• Dobbs v. Bolden
• Latino Group Backs White Firefighters
• Black Firefighters: Ricci Case Poses Grave Threat
• NAACP Backs City In Firefighter Case
• Paging Justice Kennedy
• Fire Inspectors Promoted
• Fire Inspector List Approved
• U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Firefighters’ Case
• Fire Promotions Examined in Supreme Court

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Comments

Posted by: Walt | December 11, 2009 9:59 AM

I feel good that I tossed in a few bucks for this campaign.

Those actual firemen who did not participate, but got promoted anyway, and benefitted from the suit, should share in the expenses.

Hope the winning Attorney also picks up some dough from the expected follow-up suit for lost wages.

Do not know her, but her successful endeavor via the Supreme Court deserves many accolades.

Posted by: LtMike | December 11, 2009 10:06 AM

Congratulations to all promoted. This was a good story and good ending for Terry and his family. Some good things are in that story and hopefully, I hope that LT Roundtree will move forward and be a voice of reason when it comes to future disputes that come down to race and sex discrimination within the department. He and his wife feel hard work should be rewarded and as a result of a few it has cost their family a lot of money over the years. Good luck to all of those promoted yesterday, although there are still some legal 'stuff' unanswered, the end game is in site and the future has begun.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | December 11, 2009 11:15 AM

Congratulations Terry and Lashell. New Haveners are very fortunate to have generous and hard-working neighbors in our town like the Rountrees.

Posted by: City Hall Watch | December 11, 2009 11:37 AM

Congratulations all - and a special note to Terrence and Lashell. I admired you already. It's grown. These are great life lessons for your children and for all the kids and families in our Ward and across the city. It matters not how you started or from how far back in the pack you began. It only matters how you finish and that you do it with honor, dignity, hard work and personal integrity. Congratulations and well done.

Sidenote to the Mayor: You gave stealth raises that were not disclosed or authorized by the BOA to your LTs - you wronged these firefighters all these years and then you want to hold their promotions hostage to giving up backpay? I'm not one to give away taxpayer money but this is not right. They worked hard. They earned the promotion. You denied the promotion. Now when your hand is forced, they get what they earned, but they don't get the pay they earned. It's as simple as that and it's not right.

Posted by: STYLENE | December 11, 2009 12:05 PM

Go Terry!! congrats!!! You deserve it!!!

Posted by: Seth P. | December 11, 2009 12:24 PM

Conratulations to Terry and the Rountree Family! It is good to see people from New Haven dedicated to, and doing well in New Haven. You are a rarity and worthy of celebration.

Posted by: Austin | December 11, 2009 2:17 PM

Great story. Great news for those who got promoted for their hard work.
Move on, New Haven.

Posted by: Mrs.VSD | December 11, 2009 3:06 PM

CONGRADULATIONS TO ALL THE MEN THAT WAS PROMOTED, A GREAT CONGRATS TO JAMES AND TERRY, THEY HAVE CAME ALONG WAY AND I WILL PRAY FOR YOU GUYS AND THE REST OF THE GRADUATING TEAM...ONCE AGAIN CONGRADULATIONS GUYS!!!!

Posted by: Glad to see | December 11, 2009 5:59 PM

I'm glad to see that the firefighters who didn't go with the New Haven 20 had to give up the retroactive pay....They should have stood up thier and fought with the NH 20 regardless of if they thought they passed or not...It is those firefighters that made it more about race beacuse they would not stand up and speak out. It's easy to say now after the fact that it was never about race...If it wasn't then why didn't you stand up and fight. Mr Roundtree just got lucky that 20 of his fellow firefighters had more conviction and backbone for what was right and not race.

Posted by: seasi | December 11, 2009 6:30 PM

Finally, a good story about the black firefighters who were victims here. Their plight had been ignored by the media which had been misled by the city hall line. Congrats to all three men - you finally got what you had worked for. And congrats to Luis Rivera who got his Captain's badge, and was another minority casualty of the city's illegal course.

Posted by: Joshua Sloat | December 12, 2009 9:51 AM

Congratulations to Terry and the beautiful Rountree family. If promotions were given on good looks, the Rountrees would be running the city. On second thought, that's not such a bad idea.

Posted by: A Relay | December 12, 2009 2:05 PM

One of the best posts on this - from the Wall Street Journal. James Bucholtz wrote:

"Michael Briscoe needs a reality check. When you ask that a promotion be given to you simply because of your color you are stealing that promotion from someone who worked harder and is smarter than you. You probably like sports but would be enraged if the government decided who wins the game regardless of the scoring based on race. I'll bet you'd be completely turned off and stop watching sports all together. When you ask for special favors based on your race you are first and foremost a racist, and by your own admision truely are a second class citizen because your admiting that you can't play on a level playing filed. Get off your feet, get some dignity, and get angry when some third rate lawyer tells you your not good enough to compete and need his help to fix the game. Blacks will never achieve true equality until they stop asking for preferential treatment."

Posted by: JR | December 12, 2009 5:18 PM

Congratulations to Terrence Rountree!

I would also like to say that it is completely inexcusable that Rountree and the other firefighters who did not sue the City will now be stuck with lower seniority than Frank Ricci and the other plaintiffs -- even though they got their badges the same day! (The Ricci group is insisting that they, and they alone, be given retroactive seniority, putting them years ahead of Rountree and the other firefighters promoted today who didn't sue.)

Posted by: okok | December 12, 2009 7:15 PM

glad to see-
those who fought for their promotions aka New Haven 20 did so on blind faith. If you paid attention to the story you would know that nobody knew what their scores were. The test results were literally thrown away. Then we were all lead to believe (media, public, nh residents and firefighters) that NO minorities passed the test. That was the basis and the justification for throwing out the test and halting the promotions. Mr Rountree made the wise decision to remain neutral not knowing what his test results were.He just found out according the story that he scored high enough to be promoted. Seems like its a bitter pill for you to swallow that Mr. ROuntree along with Mr. Ewing and others got promoted. Get over it. It takes a real man to know when to throw a punch and when not to. "It is better to remain quiet and be perceived as a fool than to speak and remove all doubt" take a lesson from Mr. Rountree and speak when you have a strong basis for your argument.

Posted by: Fact Checker | December 12, 2009 8:30 PM

JR,
Before you go off spreading false accusations you should check your facts. First off the Ricci plaintiffs had NO say in the promotions / seniority of the 10 non plaintiffs. That was between them and the city. Secondly all of the Ricci plaintiffs, who were promoted to Lt., scored higher than Lt. Rountree so the seniority does not effect Lt. Rountree at all. In all actuality in only changes seniority for 6 out of the 10 non plaintiffs.

Posted by: Stick to the facts | December 12, 2009 10:45 PM

Jr.,
Unfortunately you don't know what your talking about so let me correct you.

1. The Ricci group didn't insist on retroactive seniority. Their promotions take precedent because they were ordered by a federal judge because they had THE BALLS TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS!!!!!
2. Terry and others gave up seniority when they decided not to sue.....they're LUCKY they were promoted.
3. Regardless of when or how promotions took place Terry lost no seniority. He finished 16th and is 16th in seniority, he was never senior to anyone on this promotional list.
...

Posted by: Walt | December 13, 2009 6:33 AM

Glad Lt. Rountree and the others were promoted, but the fighting 20 deserve a bit more than those who were afraid to irritate the Mayor, Kimber, the NAACP and others.

Looks like they were given their deserved promotions to avoid future legal suits which they probably could have won, and they accepted its side provisions re their seniority and no-back-pay.

It is like poker..If you don't bet and call, you cant win the pot. even if your cards are the best in the game.

Doubt that Rountree harbors ill-will toward the 20. He probably is, and should be, thankful. to them

Posted by: Alfreda | December 14, 2009 6:43 AM

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL HOPE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO OUR CITY .LOVE YOU TERRY AND TYRONE.

Posted by: Ida Rountree | December 14, 2009 10:37 AM

How do I start,First I would like to say to my son and daugther how proud i am of them both,I am mostly proud of my daugther in law,I no how she is a great fighter.And how she take no for no answer,That is why terry married her,she stand beside her husband,and not behine him,and most of all my grand children come first in their live.god bless them.

Posted by: Sick and Tired | December 14, 2009 6:00 PM

To A relay...

... African American (not Blacks!)and other minority groups do not want preferential treatment sir..... They seek equality and fairness in any process they are apart of. And I think we know that equality and fairness is hard to come by these days especially here in the City of New Haven.

Posted by: A Relay | December 14, 2009 7:33 PM

To "Sick and Tired" who nitpicks over "Black" vs. "African-American". Why don't you complain to the New Haven Aldermanic "Black" Caucus, the Congressional "Black" Caucus, the West Haven "Black Coalition," BET (Black Entertainment TV Network) and the "Black Panthers." While you're at it, bitch to the NAACP(for continuing to use the word "colored" people). Finally, my friends who are Jamaican, other Carribeans, blacks and people of color are not and do NOT consider themselves "African American." Stop lumping all people of color under your PC label.

Posted by: Glad to see | December 14, 2009 9:26 PM

OKOK: you stated
" those who fought for their promotions aka New Haven 20 did so on blind faith. If you paid attention to the story you would know that nobody knew what their scores were. The test results were literally thrown away."

Thats my point! They fought because they knew it wasn't right that those test be thrown out over such an idiotic excuse.

Blame Destefano for that one.

But for you to say that Mr.Roundtree was correct and sitting around and saying nothing is crazy.

It doesn't matter if he knew he passed/scored high enoughn it is irrelevant.

The most qualified firemen should be given the promotions regardless of race. Which is what his 20 fellow firemen were saying all along. Why be neutral on that issue?

It seems to me...and let me state I do not know this to be a fact. It's just an observation. Mr. Roundtree and the other firemen who did not stand up and fight took the easy way out for 2 simple reasons.

1. They had a feeling they did good enough on the test that they would get the promotion if the New haven 20 won.

2. If the New Haven 20 lost and they did not score well enough then they would benefit from a test based more on race than actual job knowledge & proformance.

Seems like a win/win situation to me and maybe the smarter move. But still shows a lack of conviction and backbone like I stated in my first post.

Posted by: Go Away | December 15, 2009 6:16 AM

Glad to see
Let�s think about this. If the test was thrown out because �no African Americans did well enough to be promoted� Why would and African American participate in a law suit to that stated that none were going to be promoted? ...

Posted by: CapeCoveKayakCLub | December 15, 2009 9:54 AM

While all candidates who were promoted deserved to be, anyone who allowed the Man Who Would Be Governor
DeStefano to hold their backpay/seniority as tradeoffs for their promotions should look themselves in the mirror and wonder. If they had the courage of their convictions shown by the New Haven 20, finally the Mayor could be called out on the carpet ... No promotion is worth selling your soul. (Oh, thats right I forgot, Watkins thought the test was unfair, but took his promotion for the team.) Even when the city is forced to do the right thing, DeStefano finds a way to do it wrong. And thanks to the "honorable" Board of Fire Commissioners for signing on to whatever the Mayor tells them-once again, no backbone to speak of. As we speak,the city is ordering crayons for the next Lt./Capt. exams-think there will be a problem with those promotions?

Posted by: It's over | December 15, 2009 10:26 AM

Those who are blogging in a negative way are never going to be happy. So bashing those who were promoted makes them feel better about themselves. At the end of the day...they were promoted and as previously stated gave up their right to any back pay when they did not participate in the law suit. No matter how you look at it according to you all, these guys are not worthy and will never be no matter what decision they made. It�s over and in three weeks it will all be forgotten except by those who were not promoted black and white.

After 6-Year Battle, Firefighters Get Badges

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